Meaning and usage
Editorial draftThe particle 了 (le) is not a past-tense ending. After a verb, it can present an event as having taken place. At the end of a clause, it can signal that the situation has changed. Position is a useful clue, but a final 了 after a verb can do both jobs. These examples cover the neutral-tone particle; belongs to other lexical uses.
Present an occurrence as a whole. The sentence and context tell you when it happens; 了 does not necessarily mean every part of a task is finished.
Sentence-final 了 marks something as newly the case or relevant now.
Examples
我买一本书。
I bought a book.
我不喝咖啡。
I don't drink coffee anymore.
等我吃饭再走。
Wait until I've eaten before leaving.
Word comparisons
了 and 过
过 (guo) after a verb often presents an experience. 了 (le) can present a particular bounded event. 我去过北京 ( ) says I have been to Beijing, rather than locating one particular trip.
le and are different readings
The particle in these examples is le, with a neutral tone. In 吃不了 ( ), helps express inability to eat something or finish it, depending on context. Do not read the particle as . The character page keeps the other readings and their source meanings separate.
Word combinations
after eating a meal / ate a meal, depending on context
no longer going / decided not to go
Sources & editorial notes
Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.
Source record: cd-66d9f80ca486e7bf. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.
Original source entry:
了 了 [le5] /(completed action marker)/(modal particle indicating change of state, situation now)/(modal particle intensifying preceding clause)/Additional explanations and examples are editorial drafts. They have not received independent linguistic review. Audio uses an available Mandarin device voice, and its quality varies.
Editorial revision: 2026-10-28.2. Examples use tone marks, including common changes in 一 and 不.
These sources support specific usage points. They do not verify every sentence or endorse this entry.
- Tokyo University of Foreign Studies: verb-associated 了
Cross-check of event occurrence, placement after the verb, and future dependent clauses. No example is treated as independently verified.
- Tokyo University of Foreign Studies: sentence-final 了
Cross-check of a newly relevant or changed situation. remains a separate reading in CC-CEDICT.
Source material and teaching drafts have separate provenance. Long-term commercial licensing remains under review.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.
Source record: cd-4b36922b9c6ce232. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.
Original source entry:
了 了 [liao3] /to finish/(used with 得[de2] or 不[bu4] after a verb to express (im)possibility, as in 忘不了[wang4 bu5 liao3] "cannot forget")/(literary) (usually followed by a negative such as 無|无[wu2] or 不[bu4]) completely (not); entirely (not); (not) in the least/variant of 瞭|了[liao3]/Source material and teaching drafts have separate provenance. Long-term commercial licensing remains under review.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.
Source record: cd-94b7e9a747543251. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.
Original source entry:
瞭 了 [liao3] /(bound form) clear in one's mind; to understand clearly/Source material and teaching drafts have separate provenance. Long-term commercial licensing remains under review.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.
Source record: cd-67c87133abe6cb83. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.
Original source entry:
瞭 了 [liao4] /unofficial variant of 瞭[liao4]/Source material and teaching drafts have separate provenance. Long-term commercial licensing remains under review.
Character information
Other forms in these source records: 瞭
Audio uses a Mandarin voice available on your device. For entries with several readings, the voice chooses the pronunciation.